Method and apparatus for a train control system
OwnerNabil N. Ghalyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus for a train control system are disclosed, and are based on virtualization of train control logic and the use of cloud computing resources. A train control system is configured into two main parts. The first part includes physical elements of the train control system, and the second part includes a virtual train control system that provides the computing resources for the required train control application platforms. The disclosed architecture can be used with various train control technologies, including communications based train control, cab-signaling and fixed block, wayside signal technology. Further, the disclosure describes methodologies to convert cab-signaling and manual operations into distance to go operation.
Claims26
A train control system that includes two parts comprising:
- a first part located at a transit or rail property that includes physical elements of the train control system, wherein said physical elements generate operating data,
- a second part located in a cloud computing facility that includes computing resources that virtualize control functions for the train control system, wherein the computing resources generate control data that is transmitted to the physical train control elements, and
- a communication network that provides two-way communications between the physical elements of the train control system and the cloud computing facility.
A train control system that includes two parts comprising:
- A first part located at a transit or rail property that includes at least one of control modules on board trains and wayside train control equipment, wherein a train control module generates messages related to the operation of the associated train, and wherein wayside train control equipment generates operating data,
- a second part located in a cloud computing facility, which includes computing resources that virtualize train control functions, wherein the computing resources generate messages that include at least one of control data needed for the operation of physical trains and control data to operate the wayside train control equipment, and
- a communication link that provides two-way communications between the first part and the second part.
A method for a train control system, wherein the train control system includes two main parts, wherein the first part comprises physical train control elements that generate operating data, wherein the second part is implemented in a cloud computing facility that includes computing resources that are programmed to provide virtualization of train control functions, and to generate messages that include control data needed for the operation of the physical train control elements of the first part, and wherein a data communication link provides two-way communications between said two main parts, comprising the following steps:
- determining operational data of physical train control elements in the first part,
- transmitting messages that include said operational data from the first part to the second part,
- generating control data in the second part that are needed for the operation of the physical train control elements of the first part, and
- transmitting messages that include said control data from the second part to the first part.
A train control system that includes two parts comprising:
- a first part located at a transit or rail property that includes physical elements of the train control system, wherein the train control system is based on communication based train control technology, wherein the physical elements generate operating data,
- a second part located in a cloud computing facility that includes computing resources that virtualize control functions for the train control system, wherein the virtual train control function are related to at least one of a zone controller application, a solid state interlocking application and an automatic train supervision application, wherein the computing resources generate control data that is transmitted to the physical train control elements, and
- a communication network that provides two-way communications between the physical elements of the train control system and the cloud computing facility.
A method for a train control system, wherein the train control system is configured into two main parts, wherein the first part includes a plurality of physical train control elements that generate operating data, wherein the second part is implemented in a cloud computing environment that includes processor resources programmed to virtualize train control application platform that implements at least one of safety critical and non-vital train control functions and generate data to control the physical train control elements, and wherein a communication network provides communication channels between the first part and the second part, comprising the following steps:
- determining operating and status data of the physical train control elements in the first part,
- transmitting said operating and status data from the first part to the second part,
- generating control data for the physical train control elements in the second part, and
- transmitting said control data for the physical train control elements from the second part to the first part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.